Chapter 270

In the third month, the wind brushes the tips of the apricot blossoms. In the city of Dongjing, it was the season for eating roasted sheepskin, sliced sheep heads, and braised sheep trotters.

It so happened that this day was the end of the ten-day period, a day of rest. In the afternoon, Grand Councilor Zhao Ding, as was his custom, declined to see most of his guests and instead sat in his courtyard beneath the old apricot tree, reading a book amidst the flowers.

After finishing half a scroll of a new book, he felt a rare stirring of restlessness. He rose and went to the rear hall to find his wife, then told her directly:

"I won't be eating at home today..."

"Do you have an engagement today, my lord?" Lady Zhao was momentarily surprised. "Why are you only telling me now?"

"No engagement, just a sudden whim." Zhao Ding smiled lightly. "It's been a long time since I went to the southern market on the Cai River. Let's change clothes and go eat some sliced sheep head."

Lady Zhao couldn't help but laugh, yet she also felt a bit embarrassed: "How can I go out? You go with Fen'er and eat, just bring some back for me."

"It's fine." The Grand Councilor waved his hand dismissively, unconcerned. "Times are different now. His Majesty has said repeatedly that we should emulate the customs of the Tang era, that women should be free to come and go in the markets and streets. Moreover, His Majesty and the two Imperial Consorts have gone out many times themselves—ascending the Xuan De Tower, strolling in the Han Fang Garden, even sneaking into the night market on Horse Street after dark. As the Grand Councilor of the court, I should set an example."

Lady Zhao was still a bit shy, but after a moment's thought, she too began to crave the sheep head meat by the Cai River. In the end, she couldn't help but nod.

So Grand Councilor Zhao summoned his son Zhao Fen to lead two servants ahead to secure a spot. He also called for six or seven Imperial Guard on duty, had them remove their armor, and changed into plain cloth clothes himself. When his elderly wife came out wearing a veiled hat, along with a few younger children, a group of over ten people boarded three large mule carts that his son Zhao Fen had hired, and headed straight for the Cai River area south of the city.

In the afternoon, with spring in bloom and flowers opening, they had only just passed the Vermilion Bird Gate and had not yet reached the market south of the Cai River. Before the Five Peaks Temple, carried on the southern breeze, came a constant waft of meat fragrance. The younger children immediately began to clamor... Only the eldest son, Zhao Fen, showed no interest at all.

After all, before the Jingkang Incident, Zhao Ding had been an unshakeable Registrar of Kaifeng Prefecture. He was called "unshakeable" because he refused to go along with the corrupt crowd, yet the man who had recommended him was the former Grand Councilor Wu Min, making it difficult to dismiss him. So he was merely sidelined. In those years, Zhao Ding's meager salary couldn't afford the fine food of the proper restaurants, and Lady Zhao, being frugal, often bought cheap sheep heads and sheepskin from the south of the Cai River to supplement their meals. Poor Zhao Fen, arguably the foremost young master of the court, had grown up in Bianliang, yet the only delicacy he was used to was sheep head. Where was the romance in that now?

Of course, let's digress a bit here. This man Wu Min had committed grave political errors during the Jingkang era. One was shielding his patron Cai Jing, and the other was advocating peace before the Jin army crossed the Yellow River. The former led to his repeated demotions during the reign of Yuansheng (Song Qinzong), and the latter ensured he could never regain his footing during the Jianyan years.

However, Wu Min was indeed an interesting character. Although he was recommended by Cai Jing, he himself had recommended two men: one named Li Gang, and the other named Zhao Ding.

Thus, in the early Jianyan period, although Wu Min could never truly regain a substantive post, with Li Gang's help, he did have his political status restored. And now that Zhao Ding had become Grand Councilor, he had not forgotten Wu Min's recommending grace. He had Wu Min, who had been serving as the Superintendent of the Dongxiao Palace, appointed as the Grand Coordinator of Guangnan West Circuit... One could imagine that once Yue Fei successfully suppressed the rebellion, combined with the Song Dynasty's special preferential treatment for officials in the Guang circuits, as long as Wu Min made no mistakes, after one term, he would likely return to Bianliang.

One could only say that the Jingkang Incident had turned heaven and earth upside down. Who could have imagined that a Grand Councilor's casual promotion of a Kaifeng Prefecture Registrar would lead to such a second bloom today?

"Slice three whole sheep heads, one per table. Roast five catties of sheepskin, one catty for this table, two catties for each of the other two. Also, get some sheep offal to make soup for noodles, two jugs of sweet wine, none for this table... How much altogether?" After crossing the Cai River, Zhao Ding casually came to a stall with a sheep head hanging as a sign. He sat down by the river and, just as he had years ago, casually ordered sheep head. He knew that these tables were communal, so it was proper to pay first.

"Please sit for a moment, honored guest, it will be ready shortly... That comes to eight hundred cash in total." The stall owner, seeing that the guests were of no ordinary bearing and had ordered a lot, was overjoyed and hurried to serve them.

When Zhao Ding heard this, although he was initially surprised that the sheep head meat and sheepskin were much more expensive than in previous years, considering that a small half of the country was still occupied and the important sheep-producing region of Hebei was still in Jin hands, he quickly accepted the fact and signaled a servant to pay.

However, after receiving the money, the stall owner, probably sensing that this family was clearly of high status, hesitated for a moment before pressing further: "Honored guest, mutton is cheap these days too. Would you like some mutton as well?"

Zhao Ding was slightly taken aback and asked curiously, "Do you sell mutton here now too?"

The stall owner quickly replied: "One look and I can tell you're an old hand from Dongjing City. Before the Jingkang Incident, the stalls along the Cai River would never sell mutton, but it's different now... Top-quality mutton is only three hundred cash a catty. Why not cut a few catties, honored guest? For one catty of very tender meat, I'll have my wife stew it into a clean, pure mutton soup for you to dip in sauce at this table. For the other, thicker cuts, I'll use them for the noodles instead of the sheep offal?"

Zhao Ding's appetite was suddenly whetted, and he nodded in agreement. The servant paid immediately, and the stall owner, delighted at having made a big sale, went back to cut the meat himself.

However, while waiting, Zhao Ding couldn't help but frown.

"Father," Zhao Fen, seeing this, smiled knowingly. "Are you wondering why sheep head and sheepskin have become so much more expensive, while mutton has become much cheaper? And why it's ended up being sold here by the Cai River?"

"That's right," Zhao Ding said, surprised. "You know about this?"

Zhao Fen laughed again at this: "The matter is simple to explain. It's just that you're busy with daily affairs, Father, and don't know the situation here. I, on the other hand, go in and out of the Imperial Academy, which is not far from here, so I know a bit..."

"Then just say it directly, don't be mysterious."

"It's because the palace no longer eats mutton. Before the Jingkang Incident, the palace used ten thousand sheep every year..." Zhao Fen didn't dare to be mysterious with his father and quickly answered. "So, without those ten thousand sheep, the leftover sheepskin, sheep heads, and offal become scarce, and scarcity drives up prices—shouldn't they rise? And since the palace is frugal and doesn't use so much mutton, the sheep from west of the Pass still come, so mutton naturally becomes cheaper and ends up being sold here by the Cai River."

Zhao Ding immediately understood and clapped his hands in realization.

"Father doesn't know, but there was actually an incident in the palace recently involving sheep heads and mutton..." Seeing his father's reaction, Zhao Fen, now quite interested, hurried on.

"What incident?" Zhao Ding was indeed curious.

"It's said that in early spring, although His Majesty didn't like to eat mutton in large quantities, he occasionally craved some mutton soup or stew. He asked Eunuch Feng Erguan if he had a cook who could make mutton stew. Feng Erguan actually found a cook in the Gao family who had once been skilled at making stew from sheep heads in the household of Grand Marshal Gao, and sent her into the palace. Who would have thought that this cook, when making mutton stew, only used the meat from the sheep's face? As a result, one meal of three bowls of stew required five whole sheep heads! Not only that, after using the sheep heads, she would throw them on the ground and forbid anyone else from using them. The other palace cooks, who had been trained by His Majesty to be frugal, picked them up to make soup, and she scolded them, calling them 'like dogs'!"

Zhao Ding was already stunned, and Lady Zhao urged from the side: "What happened then?"

"Later, the palace staff reported it to His Majesty. His Majesty was stunned for a long time, then sent the cook away. He also mocked himself, saying he too was 'like a dog'... It's said that the Gao family's recent misfortune is somewhat related to this cook!" Zhao Fen naturally explained the outcome to his mother.

Lady Zhao sighed at this, while Zhao Ding, styled Yuanzhen, shook his head repeatedly: "Everyone talks about the good old days of Dongjing, but who knows if it was a beautiful dream or a nightmare? His Majesty experienced that splendor too, so why doesn't he dream of the old days?"

The mutton stew, sliced sheep head, and roasted sheepskin began to be served one after another. The two adjacent tables immediately became lively, and the younger children at their own table chattered away, causing Lady Zhao to hurry and quiet them. But for some reason, Zhao Ding, who had been so interested today, suddenly lost his appetite.

Zhao Fen, however, understood and couldn't help asking: "Father, aren't you going to present Uncle Meng's book?"

Zhao Ding continued shaking his head: "That fellow Meng Yue was incompetent for half his life, always just a pretentious dilettante. Yet he managed to write a notebook that returns to simplicity. I was his colleague in Kaifeng Prefecture for many years. Now that he has come to me with this request, I can't very well block his path. I still have to present this 'Dreams of Splendor of the Eastern Capital' for him. I was just lamenting His Majesty's frugality."

"Uncle Meng is a clansman of the Grand Councilor. In his days in Kaifeng Prefecture, he was far more extravagant than you, Father. He could go to the Cai River and also to the Fan Tower. If not for the Jingkang Incident, he would probably have been drunk to death in that dream for his whole life." Zhao Fen could see that his father had been unusually moved by that book, "Dreams of Splendor of the Eastern Capital," and since he himself really didn't like eating sheep head, he was happy to stay and chat a bit more with his father. "But it was precisely because of this that, suddenly encountering the Jingkang Incident and fleeing with his clan to Yangzhou, experiencing a world of chaos and the calamity of war, he took refuge in the southeast. Then, missing the splendor of Bianjing, with deep emotion, he was able to return to simplicity and write this book."

"Being able to say these words shows that you have grown up. In my opinion, there's no need to rush into the imperial examinations. Spend a few years studying the original doctrines first. In the meantime, I can also find a suitable match for you." Zhao Ding, hearing this, rarely stroked his beard with relief. "It will also be convenient for you to help me manage the household affairs."

"It's all because of the delays in the past few years..." Lady Zhao, who was looking after the younger children, suddenly interjected.

"Speaking of His Majesty's frugality..." Seeing his mother interrupt, Zhao Fen quickly smiled at his father again. "During the recent purge of excessive favors and hereditary privileges, rumors were rife. There were many absurd sayings in the Imperial Academy too, claiming that His Majesty had been possessed by some demon at the Mingdao Palace. Otherwise, having only lived the life of the Prince of Kang's residence, he wouldn't be so frugal!"

"Shut up!" This was not a particularly serious rumor, and it was very widespread, so after his son had finished speaking in one breath, Zhao Ding scolded him unhurriedly. "You know about His Majesty falling into a well and losing his memory, even if others don't. Why spread such absurd and baseless talk? Besides, His Majesty's frugality is not that simple. Just think about it. In the old days, the palace alone consumed ten thousand sheep a year for meat. How much did that cost? And His Majesty, by saving all that, even digging his own fish ponds and raising chickens and ducks to supply his own meat, and having Imperial Consort Pan personally lead the palace maids in sericulture—even if it's just for show, it's enough to put him in an unassailable position!"

"His Majesty is indeed frugal." Zhao Fen quickly put on a slightly more serious expression in response, but then immediately lowered his voice and continued. "I heard that later, His Majesty gradually remembered things from the past?"

"Probably so." Zhao Ding also sighed. "That's why I had my earlier doubt... Why doesn't His Majesty dream of the past?"

"Why is that?"

"Perhaps he has another dream?" Zhao Ding shook his head slightly. "His Majesty once publicly stated his aspirations... He wants to emulate the Martial Emperor of Wei, swallowing Liaodong and then cracking his whip by the Eastern Sea; he wants to complete the nine provinces and erect steles recording the meritorious officials; he wants to bring modest prosperity to the realm and then burn a memorial at the Mingdao Palace."

"'The people are weary, they can perhaps have modest prosperity'... These three things are really just one." Zhao Fen responded casually. "It's just about enduring hardship to achieve revenge, and then destroying the Jin to unify the realm."

"That's right, that is His Majesty's intention." Having somewhat recovered his composure, Zhao Ding answered while finally picking up a piece of mutton stew to dip in the sauce. But for some reason, after just two bites of the food he had so eagerly anticipated, he lost interest. He put down his chopsticks again and just gazed at the bustling scene around him with a sigh. "In fact, back in the day, Emperor Mingzong of the Later Tang only needed a few years without war to be able to speak of 'modest prosperity.' The 'Book of Jin' also says, 'With the imperial mausoleums secure, the Central Plains can have modest prosperity.' If we didn't seek to campaign north and made peace with the Jin, with just this greater part of Henan, with His Majesty's current frugality, with so many upright officials filling the court, and with the redundant officials and troops eliminated, with a little management, we could truly be called an era of modest prosperity within a few years."

"Forgive me for speaking bluntly, Father, but His Majesty won't allow it. The two hundred thousand Imperial Army troops won't allow it. Even the refugees from the Two Rivers won't allow it." This time it was Zhao Fen's turn to shake his head. "Father, although my name is Fen, I grew up in Bianjing, so it's fine for me. But you grew up in our old home in Hedong. Don't you remember it in your heart? Why do you speak like this?"

"Of course I remember." Zhao Ding grew even more somber. "But it's precisely because I am from Hedong that I can say this... I spent a long time in Huainan before and long ago sensed the mood of the southerners. They see military campaigns in the north as a burden... And the common people in the south truly do suffer."

"But no matter what, His Majesty won't allow it." Zhao Fen quickly urged again. "If you say such things, Father, I'm afraid you'll be going against His Majesty's will."

Zhao Ding shook his head again: "I understand this principle, of course. But if I don't say it, these people from Henan and Jiangnan will find someone else to say it... Being in the middle, I can feel that the majority of officials and common people below don't want war."

"But those below still cannot defy His Majesty." Zhao Fen was unimpressed. "His Majesty holds military power himself, and his trusted confidants are spread throughout the court and the countryside... Isn't Father himself one of His Majesty's confidants? And with the Two Emperors in the north, a northern campaign is a matter of great righteousness. Under such circumstances, anyone who dares to speak of peace would probably end up like Liu Guangshi or Du Chong."

Zhao Ding slowly shook his head: "Your words are roughly correct... But there is one thing: His Majesty's northern campaign is absolutely not for the sake of the Two Emperors."

"Who doesn't know that?" The sun was gradually setting in the west. Zhao Fen, holding a bowl of mutton noodles, smiled back. "If the Jin really sent the Two Emperors back, His Majesty would probably have a headache instead. I'm just talking about the righteousness on the surface... With just that one phrase, it's enough to leave the scholar-officials of the realm speechless, forcing them to unite for the northern campaign! Not to mention that His Majesty commands the Imperial Army and many court officials?"

"That's true." Zhao Ding blurted out, but then frowned again. "But is His Majesty's attitude towards the Two Emperors also widely known among the people?"

"Naturally." Zhao Fen quickly put down his mutton noodles and explained again. "We've already been cleaning up the accumulated abuses. Besides, rumors of all kinds of incidents have spread. At the very least, in the Imperial Academy, it's now an open secret."

"Then what do the people... or the Imperial Academy, say about His Majesty?" Zhao Ding asked seriously. "Are there any improper remarks?"

"There are indeed some improper remarks, most of them came during the earlier revocation of excessive favors and sinecures, but given His Majesty's prestige from returning to the old capital and the great victory at Yaoshan, there are more defenses and praises... As for the Two Sages, since it touches on filial piety and brotherly duty, there is actually less discussion."

"Those improper remarks... aside from the utterly absurd ones, do you remember them?" Zhao Ding looked around. It was just at the evening meal hour, boats crowded the Cai River, noise came from every side, and even the words of the stall owner behind him and the guards at the next table were indistinct, so he couldn't help asking a few more questions. "It's not just about filial piety and brotherly duty."

"I naturally remember." Zhao Fen also looked around and knowingly raised his bowl with a smile. "Your son will tell a few interesting ones... Some say His Majesty knows his mistakes but won't correct them, that he likes to save face... 'Zhao Jiu of Cangzhou' is clear proof!"

"What does that mean?"

"It's said that when His Majesty used that signature on the Huai River, he had amnesia and misremembered his own native place, recording the Zhao clan of Zhuozhou as Cangzhou... That was fine, since he had amnesia... But later, as he gradually recalled old matters, why didn't he realize the error? Instead he kept using it again and again, showing he's a man who cares about face and won't repent."

"A signature, after all, is supposed to be somewhat peculiar. Besides, that 'Zhao Jiu of Cangzhou' signature has become familiar to both countries. Why change it? How do you know His Majesty didn't do it deliberately?"

"Actually, there's also that explanation... They say His Majesty loathed that the Two Sages abandoned the state, was ashamed to be of the Zhao clan of Zhuozhou, and deliberately changed it to show he was completely different from the Two Sages."

"That does have some logic. There are similar guesses at court... Anything else?"

"Yes... They say His Majesty is unlearned and untalented... 'The Mandate of Heaven is not to be feared' is clear proof!"

"The Mandate of Heaven can also refer to celestial portents. Same meaning, no harm... Would His Majesty really say that he, the Son of Heaven, is not to be feared? Just a minor error in wording, not worth mentioning! You must understand, His Majesty was originally a pleasure-loving prince. If he hadn't encountered great upheaval, he would never have thought of becoming the ruler, let alone studied the Mandate of Heaven or celestial portents."

"That is exactly the reasoning."

"Anything else?"

"They say His Majesty secretly admires Yi'an Jushi..."

"Nonsense! Yi'an Jushi is nearly fifty, about the same age as the Empress Dowager. Where do such absurd words come from... At most, you could say His Majesty secretly admires Yi'an Jushi's poetic talent."

"Those who understand naturally understand, but Father must also know that in this city, people most enjoy gossiping about the imperial family's private affairs. It can't be stopped."

"That's true... Anything else?"

"They say His Majesty is brilliant and talented, yet frivolous in temperament, and when agitated and depressed, shows some signs of cruelty. In some matters, he appears quite selfish and stops at nothing... So, in fact, he is extremely similar to the Retired Emperor, the Daoist Sovereign!"

Zhao Ding suddenly fell silent. After a long while, he nodded: "Indeed, he is similar!"

This time, Zhao Fen instead grew indignant on His Majesty's behalf: "If that's the case, then why is one a ruler who lost the state, and the other a ruler who restores it?"

"Because His Majesty has seen with his own eyes the people displaced, the entire city standing empty, the rivers flowing with blood. At his very core, he has added a layer of bottom line for himself!" Zhao Ding sat with folded hands, solemn and stern. "And for one who is Son of Heaven, with boundless power, the most important thing is not how brilliant and martial he is, but precisely knowing how to hold the bottom line, not to act willfully and recklessly... Look at His Majesty: brilliant and talented, yet he knows restraint; frivolous in temperament, yet he knows to conceal it; when agitated and he kills, it is only in warfare; even with all those who previously reviled the imperial carriage, after the Chen Dong affair, he absolutely does not lightly inflict death upon them; and when encountering political resistance at court, His Majesty can be persuaded, and he acts where he can, never lightly imposing party proscriptions or making unwarranted connections; as for the scale of the harem and palace expenditures, they are enough to shame countless rulers... And these are precisely the bottom lines, one by one."

"Father's words do contain some truth."

"Not just some truth. Based on your father's observation and reflection, I feel that His Majesty's bottom line is actually three points higher than even the wise rulers recorded in history!" Zhao Ding grew even more emotional.

"If that's so, then isn't His Majesty a rare sage ruler?"

"What do you think?" Zhao Ding suddenly glared at him. "If a sage ruler were not at court, how could your father, who was a mere Ritual Officer in Kaifeng Prefecture for over a decade, become the Chancellor of the Capital Secretariat?! If His Majesty were not a sage ruler, but just like the Retired Emperor, the Daoist Sovereign, what would I be? Which of the Six Traitors?"

Zhao Fen was struck speechless on the spot, and the stall owner behind Zhao Ding, who had been about to bring over some side dishes, was so startled that he quickly lowered his head, pretending he hadn't heard anything, and then secretly swapped the spiced lamb offal for clean seasonal vegetables before coming over.

Zhao Ding said nothing more, just lowered his head and ate the mutton.

The meal ended, and Chancellor Zhao, having rarely indulged his mood, let the matter drop. The next day, this Chancellor of the Capital Secretariat still went to the palace for an audience with the emperor, presenting that book *The Dream of Splendor of the Eastern Capital* on behalf of his old friend. His Majesty Zhao treasured it like a precious find, personally collected the original, and promised to have it printed, but refused to reward Meng Yue with an official post for the merit of presenting the book, on the grounds that words were not enough to govern the state. Only at Zhao Ding's earnest request did he permit the Capital Secretariat to give Meng Yue a minor assignment based on his previous official rank.

However, although His Majesty Zhao was unwilling to give Meng Yuanlao an official post, he still shamelessly used the man's book. Everyone in the court knew that ever since obtaining *The Dream of Splendor of the Eastern Capital*, His Majesty had taken it as his guide, spending several days just searching out the various foods mentioned in it.

And so, two more days passed. As military officers from the Huai East direction arrived in the capital, the Military Academy was reopened... Yes, here an extra note must be made: His Majesty Zhao is indeed an unlearned and untalented fellow. The Great Song originally had a complete system of military academies; they were just ineffective... But regardless, this was not the time to quibble over such matters, because on the very day the Military Academy reopened, the Jin envoy Wulinda Zanmo arrived in the Eastern Capital.

Now, this Jin envoy surnamed Wulinda had previously been sent on missions between Jin and Liao, and then several times between Song and Jin. He could be called the most professional heavyweight envoy of the Jin state... Therefore, as soon as he arrived, he instantly drew the attention of the entire court and populace, from nobles and high ministers down to peddlers and porters, all discussing him endlessly.

And Wulinda Zanmo truly 'lived up to expectations.' Right from the start, during his summons before the Capital Secretariat and the Privy Council, he stated his purpose clearly — the Jin state intended to negotiate peace with the Great Song while maintaining the status quo, thereby ending the conflict that had lasted over six years.

Even though everyone had anticipated it somewhat, the Jin taking the initiative to sue for peace still shook the court and the public.

After all, according to His Majesty Zhao's explicit regulations, within the Zhao Song court, no one was permitted to propose peace negotiations... Whoever spoke of peace would be killed!

And now, the Jin had actually taken the initiative to sue for peace, so it was inevitable that people's minds would waver.

PS: Thanks to reader Luming for the reminder and correction. In the *History of Song*: 'In the fifth month, on the day renxu, Gao Qiu was made Kaifu Yitong Sansi. On the day dingmao, the son Bing was enfeoffed as Duke of Changguo.' The subject of 'the son Bing was enfeoffed as Duke of Changguo' should be Emperor Huizong of Song. In other words, Gao Qiu's other son was not called Gao Bing. The one enfeoffed as Duke of Changguo was Emperor Huizong's twenty-first son, Zhao Bing. This is Baidu Baike's usual stupidity, and I failed to verify... According to the *Record of the Jingkang Incident*, Gao Qiu's other son was called Gao Yaoqing, which matches Gao Yaokang and Gao Yaofu... Corrections have been made.

Incidentally, this chapter mentions *The Dream of Splendor of the Eastern Capital*, and some of the things involved are basically true. For example, the Song court used tens of thousands of sheep per year. Considering that during Emperor Shenzong's reign, the annual consumption of mutton was 430,000 jin, then with Emperor Huizong's extravagance, it would only be more, not less, so the claim of tens of thousands should be correct. Then, the five sheep heads for one meal of sheep-face soup is also recorded in history as true, as is 'ruo gouzi' (like a dog).

Behind *The Dream of Splendor of the Eastern Capital* truly lies the extravagance and dissipation of the rulers...